Big Ten Primer: Field Hockey

Maryland Athletics

7-29-2014

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Terrapin field hockey team will embark upon a new journey against a new field of fierce conference foes after the University of Maryland joined the Big Ten conference on July 1.

Let’s take a look at Big Ten field hockey as the Terps prepare for their first season in the Big Ten.

Maryland’s History With The Big Ten

Maryland has competed against all eight of the other Big Ten field hockey teams.

The Terrapins are 82-31-3 (.720) all-time against Big Ten opponents. Head coach Missy Meharg is 65-11-1 (.851) vs. Big Ten opponents in her 26 years at the helm of the Maryland field hockey program.

Big Ten field hockey is now the biggest conference in the history of the sport in the NCAA with nine teams - Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers and Maryland.

A Look Back at Big Games vs. the Big Ten

3-1 win over Ohio State in the NCAA Final Four - Nov. 19, 2010

Top-seeded Maryland dominated Ohio State in a special night at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex. Katie O'Donnell notched a hat trick as the Terrapins handled the Buckeyes, 3-1, in the NCAA Final Four en route to their seventh NCAA title.

Ohio State scored just under five minutes into the match, then O'Donnell scored before the break to tie it up. She added two goals in the second half in front of over 1,500 people on the Terrapins' home field.

Double OT win over Iowa in the NCAA Final Four - Nov. 21, 2008

Maryland beat Iowa, 2-1, in a double overtime thriller to advance to the NCAA title game in Louisville, Ky. in 2008.

Nicole Muracco put the Terrapins on the board first in the 30th minute. Iowa scored with just under 15 minutes to play to force overtime.

Goalkeeper Alicia Grater made two great saves on Hawkeye penalty corners in extra time, then Katie O'Donnell scored the game winner in the 90th minute in golden goal overtime off a penalty corner. The Terrapins would go on to win their sixth NCAA championship.

Win Over Michigan for 1999 NCAA title - Nov. 21, 1999

The top-ranked Terrapins held off Michigan, 2-1, to win the program's third NCAA title and second under Missy Meharg in Boston.

Keli Smith scored the Terrapins' first goal with just over 10 minutes left in the first half. Current Maryland associate head coach Dina Rizzo shot the ball into the circle as time expired in the first half and Carissa Messimer tipped it in for a 2-0 lead.

The Big Ten In The Big Dance

Two Big Ten teams earned a bid to the 16-team 2013 NCAA tournament - Michigan State and Penn State.

Six other Big Ten teams have made 32 appearances in the NCAA Final Four – Iowa (11), Penn State (11), Northwestern (4), Michigan (3), Michigan State (2), Ohio State (1).

Iowa won the Big Ten's first NCAA title in 1986 and Michigan won the second in 2001.

Conference Primer

The Big Ten first recognized field hockey as an official conference sport in the 1981-82 season.

Iowa won the first Big Ten regular season title in 1981 and have won more than any other Big Ten school with 10.

Penn State has won six Big Ten tournament titles and Michigan has won five.